'An Election of Which Malaysia Can Be Truly Proud'

- Prime Minister Badawi urges Malaysians to stand up for democracy

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Malaysian Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi today urged all Malaysians to stand up for their
democracy by getting involved in the campaign, participating in the debate
about the country's future and voting in the general election of March 8th.
In the 51st year of Malaysia's independence the prime minister called on
Malaysians to make mass participation in the elections an expression of
national pride and unity.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Badawi said, "Malaysians can be as proud of our
democracy as we are of our country. We make great efforts to be an inclusive
society and to ensure no-one is left behind."
"It is a source of great pride to me that after half a century of
independence Malaysia is a stable multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-party
democracy. Let the conduct of this election be an expression of our national
pride and unity," he said.
The 13-day Malaysian election campaign, which officially began on Sunday,
will be the longest since 1982. Historically, Malaysian election campaigns
have usually had an average duration of 7-8 days.
"With more time for campaigning more Malaysians have the opportunity to
join in the debate, greater numbers can participate in the campaign and every
citizen will have an equal opportunity to make their choice about the future
of our nation," said Mr. Badawi.
In all, some 1,588 candidates from more than 20 parties, including 103
independents, are contesting the 12th General Election since Malaysia's
independence in 1957. They are competing for 222 seats in Parliament and 504
seats in state governments.
In addition to the longer election campaign timetable, there have been a
number of other recent reforms to electoral procedures to ensure greater
fairness and transparency in this year's General Election.
The reforms by the independent Malaysian Electoral Commission include the
use of transparent ballot boxes that will be used for the first time in a
Malaysian election; the introduction of indelible ink marking of voters in
order to deter multiple voting and impersonation; the availability of full
electoral rolls in order to check and verify the names of all registered
voters to avoid electoral fraud. The independent Electoral Commission also
vets the electoral roll before each election to ensure that no vote rigging
can take place.
A candidate is allowed to appoint one agent to act for them at every
polling station. The agent's duties include making sure the ballot boxes have
not been tampered with and the counting of votes is fair and accurate.
When voting is over, the ballots are counted by a presiding officer at the
polling station or a specified counting place with the agents present. The
results are then sent to a vote tallying centre.
"I strongly urge my fellow Malaysians to stand up for democracy, use their
vote on March 8th and ensure this is an election of which Malaysia can be
truly proud," Mr. Badawi said.
During campaigning on Tuesday, Prime Minister Badawi will travel to his
home state of Penang before embarking on a three day swing through the north
of Malaysia.
SOURCE BN2008

Chong Sin Woon, +6019 382 8461, campaignupdates@BN2008.org.my